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Cartagena Today

The city of Cartagena

Cartagena is a city of contrasts, its rich cultural and military history merely a backdrop for the industrial and commercial activity which supports the second largest city in the Region of Murcia.

Its natural strategic port has offered shelter to traders for thousands of years, and the rich mines of the Sierra Minera provided a reason for the frequent wars which were fought in order to possess it, Cartagena still being a major naval base today, as well as boasting a rich military heritage of patrimony. The history of Cartagena charts its development and the cultures which have shaped it today.

The city has developed a lucrative tourism industry based on the number of historical places which tourists can visit and enjoy, including the RomanTheatre Museum, ARQUA, MURAM, Casa de la Fortuna, Cartagena Municipal Archaeology Museum, the Augusteum, the Molinete and other well preserved Roman buildings and museums.

In addition there has been major investment in the creation of a new market for cruise ship tourism.

Cartagena

These days the port remains a major focal point for commercial activity, and the Escombreras industrial area has attracted major businesses including the Repsol refinery, SABIC petrochemicals and Holcim concrete plants within a concealed industrial zone. Cartagena is also the home of the regional parliament building of Murcia.

The Campo de Cartagena is a major source of agricultural employment, copnsisting of flat and fertile irrigated areas where salad crops, peppers, potatoes and courgettes are grown, while non-irrigated crops include olives, carobs and almonds.

The more mountainous outlying districts of Cartagena boast extensive areas of beaches, stretching around the coastline from Isla Plana in the west to Cabo de Palos in the east. Here, the spit of La Manga del Mar Menor encloses the Mar Menor, giving Cartagena an extensive offering of prime sandy beaches with safe bathing conditions in Europe's largest saltwater lagoon.

This in turn creates a varied leisure industry, with watersports, a motor racing circuit, some of the best diving facilities in Europe and one of Spain's most prestigious golf and residential complexes, La Manga Club, all creating leisure and tourism opportunities for local businesses.

Cartagena has a rich cultural offering, with important Semana Santa and Romans and Carthaginians fiestas, Carnival, the Mar de Músicas and Cartagena Jazz festivals. The El Batel auditorium and congress centre enhances an already rich cultural programme.

LOCATION

Click for map, Cartagena Spain

There is often confusion on map searches as there is another Cartagena in Columbia. Cartagena Spain is located in the south of the region of Murcia and is a major port and industrial centre.

The municipality of Cartagena covers an area of 558 square kilometres, with a population of 218,000 making it the second most populated municipality of the 45 in the Region of Murcia.

It shares boundaries with Torre Pacheco, Los Alcázares, La Unión, Mazarrón and Fuente Álamo.

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CARTAGENA

Christmas lights in Cartagena go big in 2025 with shooting star and giant Three Wise MenCity Council boosts budget to nearly 900,000 euros for festive displays around the city Cartagena is gearing up to sparkle this holiday season with some truly spectacular Christmas decorations lighting up the city from December 5th through January 7th.. 16/09/2025

Watch: Wild boars wandering into Cartagena will be caught and shotRepeated incursions into residential areas are causing concern for locals and authorities Wild boars in parks on Avenida Nueva Cartagena on August 29 Cartagena City Hall is reportedly preparing a plan to tackle the problem of wild boars straying.. 16/09/2025

Wildfire forces closure of road between La Unión and PortmánFlames started in pine woodland near house and spread rapidly A wildfire scare in Portmán forced the closure of the road to La Unión on Monday afternoon, near the municipal border with Cartagena. Shortly after 2.30pm, several.. 16/09/2025

Virgin of Fuensanta pilgrimage closes streets in Murcia todayCartagena prepares for its famous Carthaginians and Romans festival next week Today, Tuesday September 16th, Murcia welcomes the annual pilgrimage of the Virgin of Fuensanta, affectionately called “La Morenica,” as she returns to her sanctuary.. 16/09/2025

Win free tickets to watch La Manga European Senior Masters Championship with Murcia TodayLegendary Ryder Cup stars set to compete at La Manga Club this November 6-9, 2025 Golf fans in the Region of Murcia are in for a real treat this autumn as the European Senior Masters Championship returns to La Manga Club from November 6 to 9, 2025.. 15/09/2025

The Sacred Torch of the fiestas of Cartagena sets out from Caravaca on September 16The Iter Ignis route covers a distance of 141 kilometres on its 3-day journey to Cartagena The annual fiestas of the Carthagineses y Romanos in Cartagena are almost upon us once again, and this year the precursors to the main events, the carrying of the.. 12/09/2025

Christmas comes early in Cartagena - but shade still just a dreamCity awards festive contracts, prepares new bike lane links, while those famous canopies remain missing at summer's end It’s only September and the children are just returning to school after their long summer break, but the ayuntamiento of.. 12/09/2025

Secure your dream Spanish home this September with expert conveyancing with Heniam & AssociatesWhether you’re buying a holiday home, relocating or investing, Heniam’s lawyers handle the legal complexities so you don’t face surprises later September marks the peak of Spain's property season, with buyers returning from summer.. 11/09/2025

Evacuation after staircase collapse in historic Cartagena buildingOld property on Honda Street sealed off amid risk of further collapse An old building on Honda Street in the centre of Cartagena was evacuated on Saturday September 6, following the partial collapse of its interior staircase. The structure, which had been..

Murcia invests €14M in flood protection as autumn weather warnings hit the RegionStorm tanks, drainage systems and flood parks will be constructed in Cortillas, Lorquí and San Javier As autumn sets in and several towns across the Region of Murcia face orange weather alerts for torrential rain, the regional government.. 09/09/2025

Summer is almost over and Cartagena street awnings are still missingFestive lights are already being installed on Calle del Carmen, but summer has come and gone without any sun shade September in Cartagena brings a peculiar irony to Calle del Carmen, the historic centre's busiest commercial street. While workers.. 09/09/2025

Cartagena's port sparks a new era of hospitality and regenerationThe rejuvenation of Cartagena’s historic centre takes a leap forward as the AC Hotel Cartagena reopens after significant renovation. Renovation work is now underway at the port of Cartagena, marking the start of a wider transformation in the.. 09/09/2025

Gardens on Cartagena's Avenida del Cantón get a fresh new look ahead of festival seasonResidents’ complaints spur a welcome spruce-up just in time for the Carthaginians and Romans festivities Avenida del Cantón in Cartagena received a noticeable facelift this past Friday, improving an area that had been the focus of growing.. 08/09/2025

Cartagena blooms for Carthaginians and Romans festival with 12,000 new plantsCity launches major floral makeover to welcome one of Spain’s most colourful historic fiestas Cartagena has started a lively transformation ahead of the Carthaginians and Romans Festival, with the city set to receive a total of 12,000 fresh plants.. 08/09/2025

September holidays and festivals bring renewed joy to the Region of MurciaMurcia Fair, Carthaginians and Romans, and numerous local patron saint celebrations brighten the month As September arrives, many in the Region of Murcia find it a fresh start - a chance to ease back into routines after the summer break while continuing.. 05/09/2025

New drinking fountains installed in central CartagenaFountains installed at Paseo Alfonso XII and Plaza de España as part of wider hydration plan Cartagena is making staying hydrated easier with the installation of two new cold drinking fountains in the city centre this week. Following the launch.. 05/09/2025

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